Soccer features

Concussions in soccer

Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer

Dallas Morning News file photo, 2015: Nicolas Reyes, 13, heads a soccer ball at a park near his home on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, in Coppell. Reyes got a concussion playing soccer in October and had to miss school and stop playing sports so he could recover. He was recently cleared to return to normal activities and is participating in a UT Southwestern registry of brain injuries. Researchers hope the registry will help them learn more about concussions, and how some people recover sooner or show fewer symptoms than others. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)

The Dallas Morning News' Callie Caplan takes a look at concussions in soccer through independent studies and the story of a former Lake Highlands player named Tommy Lamberth. Here's a quick snapshot of her story:

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Many times during high school soccer games, Lamberth felt dizzy and lightheaded, fought headaches.

"I'm probably just dehydrated," thought Lambert, who graduated from high school in 2004. "I haven't had enough water."

It's more likely he suffered from signs of a concussion, according to research over the past 15 years.

In the latest National High School Sports-Related Injury and Surveillance Study (2017-18) -- which researches the rate of injuries in high school sports practices and competitions nationally -- football (31.4%), girls soccer (24.5%) and boys soccer (16.3%) had three of the four highest percentages of concussions in each sport's respective injury totals.

The 'brain is something that's forever': Concussions are major concern in youth soccer – here's what is being done to combat them

Volleyball (18.6%) ranked third in concussion percentage among the nine sports the study considered, but the sport's total participation and injury rate was significantly lower than football and soccer.

Football led with 79% of all reported boys' sports concussions; soccer was second at 7%.

An independent study this spring by The Dallas Morning News showed similar trends with total football and soccer concussions leading boys and girls' sports, respectively.

In the study, which gathered data from 71 schools who replied to public records requests by April 10, girls soccer concussions (747) almost doubled boys soccer's total (405) between 2015 and 2019. Football led all sports with 2,315 in that span.

Another Allen contender?

The News' Joseph Hoyt takes a look at the resurgence of Allen's girls soccer team under head coach Kelly Thompson.

"Regardless of what happens Friday, Allen - a school known for its athletic accomplishments - is back in the state tournament for the first time in over two decades. And thanks to the return of an alumnus, there's reason to believe it might not be long before the Eagles make it back more often." Read more.

Previewing the state tournament

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The Highland Park High School girls soccer team celebrates a 2-1 victory over Frisco Independence High School during the Class 5A Region II Championship girls soccer game played at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton on Saturday, April 13, 2019. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor)

The News' Joe Hoyt breaks down three storylines and 10 players who could have huge impacts this week in Georgetown. Here's a small sneak peak at what he said:

Players to watch

Girls

Southlake Carroll's Taylor Tufts: The Oklahoma signee might be the state's best player in the opponent's final third, according to head coach Matt Colvin. Tufts displayed that in a 6-0 regional final victory over Richardson Pearce on Saturday, tallying four assists and one goal. If Carroll is going to win its second state title Tufts, one of the team's multiple Division I signees, will be a major reason why.

2019 UIL state soccer preview: Dallas-area storylines and 10 players who will determine state championships

Allen's Ashleigh Williams: The only goal scored in Allen's regional semifinal win over Austin Vandergrift came off the foot of Williams, a sophomore. She made one move and bent a shot from the left corner all the way into the net's upper right corner. Williams is also tied with Jordan Colbert for the team lead in goals with 10. Goalkeeper and senior captain Jennifer Peters will also be key for Allen.

Boys

Frisco Wakeland's Marc Borbonus: The Wolverines are trying to become the second boys team since 1990-92 and the first team overall to win three straight soccer titles since 2000-02. How about a bonus streak to keep an eye on? Borbonus, a junior forward for Wakeland, won the state tournament MVP award last year. He could do it again if he leads Wakeland to the title again. He's got a team-high 22 goals.

Flower Mound's Brock Clayton: Simply put, Flower Mound probably wouldn't be in the state tournament without the senior defender. He scored the game-winning goal against Duncanville with seconds left in regulation and then scored the game-tying header with less than two minutes left against Bowie in the regional semifinal. He would also assist on the tying goal in overtime against Bowie before drilling one of Flower Mound's 10 made penalty kick shots.